The Blazers have agreed to a contract buyout with veteran center Deandre Ayton, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter).
Ayton is in the final year of a four-year, nearly $133MM contract, which was set to pay him $35.5MM this season. The Blazers, who have drafted centers in the first round of the 2024 and 2025 drafts, will use this opportunity to clear rotation minutes for their young big men.
Ayton will become a free agent and is free to sign with any team despite having a salary of over $14.1MM, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That’s because the waiver restriction for second-apron teams is specific to in-season moves.
More to come…